I can still vividly recall my first encounter with yoga at a workshop aimed at empowering women. There, I met a woman who shared her story about her close relationship with yoga. She told me about her routine, which included mindfulness even while driving. At the time, her approach struck me as quite bizarre—honestly, I just thought, 'What a strange way to live.’

But as the years went by, and the praises for yoga kept coming from all corners, my curiosity deepened. Eventually, during a particularly tough period in my life, I found myself thinking, 'Why not give it a shot?’

That was eight years ago. At first, I couldn’t grasp the appeal. But I persisted, wondering if perhaps there was something I was missing out on. It took a few starts and stops over the years before I began to notice changes—not only physically but mentally as well.

Yoga slowly transformed into a daily ritual for me.

Now, reflecting on my journey, I aim to inspire those of you who might be skeptical towards yoga. If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, let me share the stories of women who started this journey just like I did, and found much more than they anticipated.

1. Petra Rakebrandt, Holistic Healer, Health and Meditation Coach

You may have heard the saying, 'yoga finds you.’ That’s exactly what happened to me.

Initially, I thought I was ready to dive into yoga, but I ended up hating my first class. The teacher, the other participants, and especially the final pose, Shavasana, left me feeling utterly disappointed. It was anything but relaxing, and I was convinced yoga wasn’t for me.

Two years later, a friend convinced me to try her Hatha yoga class, promising a better experience. Reluctantly, I gave it another go, and to my surprise, I fell in love with it. I became acutely aware of my body and my presence within it. The asanas were challenging but exciting, revealing new insights into my abilities.

After that class, I was both exhausted and relaxed, as if I’d discovered a wondrous new place I never knew existed.

Yoga reached me at a critical time, right after a painful breakup. It didn’t just help me heal—it saved me.

Ever since, yoga has been my passion and profession. 

2. Sarah Burke, Yoga and Meditation Teacher

I began my journey as a yoga and meditation teacher in 2015, but my exploration into the mind-body connection started over a decade ago. 

I’ve always been active, mostly for the sheer joy of movement. Like many others, I found that physical activity helped me manage stress and anxiety.

However, as anxiety and darker moments began to dominate my thoughts, that joyful part of my life started to diminish. During this period, I became severely ill, both mentally and physically. I went through a tough phase with medication, hospital stays, and an inability to work.

Yoga demands a specific mental state—one free from distractions, where you can let go of self-doubt and manage expectations. 

For me, yoga became a continuous journey of self-discovery. It was the key to maintaining my health, far more effective than any medication. As soon as I was able, I chose to transform my lifestyle, so I could share the transformative power of yoga with others facing similar challenges.

3. Jo Montgomery, Physiotherapist and Yoga Teacher

As a young gymnast, I loved working on flexibility and strength, and I took to yoga with enthusiasm—although I often left class early, just as Savasana began. 

But everything changed last summer when I suddenly found myself out of work. Previously immersed in a high-performance environment, I lost not only my professional focus but also my goals and supportive network.

Feeling lost and struggling with the 'whys’ and 'hows’ of moving forward, I returned to yoga.

In October, during a period of deep reflection about my future, I traveled to Rishikesh (the birthplace of yoga) to complete my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT). There, immersed in daily practices of yoga asanas, pranayama, and meditation, I embraced a new lifestyle. Surrounded by fellow students and teachers, I found a new support network that enriched my understanding of yoga.

Now back home, I’m still learning and practicing, trying to find my unique teaching style. I’m exploring both in-person and online methods to see what best fits my life.

4. Monica Narvaez, Yoga Teacher

It was the act of breathing, moving, and releasing emotions that first drew me to yoga over twenty years ago at a wellness retreat in Mexico. My initial experience with daily Kundalini sessions was profound, but when I tried other, faster-paced yoga styles, I felt lost. Then, a friend introduced me to hot yoga, which resonated well with me. Each yoga class offered a unique experience, yet consistently left me feeling good.

During the COVID pandemic, I realized the immense benefits of maintaining a brief daily yoga routine of 5-15 minutes. It supported my physical, mental, and spiritual health. 

In 2021, a major knee injury and subsequent surgeries for a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus made regular physical therapy challenging. I turned to daily chair yoga therapy, which not only helped me rehabilitate my knee but also deepened my commitment to yoga.

Last fall, after two decades in the corporate world, I decided to follow my passion. By January 2024, I was certified as a Yoga and Ayurveda Teacher. Since then, I’ve been dedicated to promoting mindful movement, somatic meditations, and inclusivity for diverse body types.

I am now the proud owner of Sana Body & Mind, a private yoga practice, ensuring everyone leaves feeling peaceful, calm, and relaxed.

5. Justyna Młodawska, Yoga Teacher

My yoga journey began 10 years ago when I moved from Poland to Italy, seeking an activity I could practice at home. I recalled a yoga workshop I attended years earlier and decided that was exactly what I needed. I started with Kundalini yoga, following a few recorded lessons almost daily, and I felt fantastic.

Gradually, I started to modify my practice by incorporating new asanas I found online and dropping some pranayamas I didn’t quite understand.

A year later, after returning to Poland, I joined a Hatha Yoga class. It was a breakthrough for me. The instructor’s detailed explanations of the asanas and occasional corrections introduced a new depth to my movements. Despite my background in sports and dance, I realized I didn’t know my body well. Subtle movements like hip rotations, shoulder adjustments, or changing my head position made a significant difference. That was when I truly fell for yoga, realizing it was more than just physical exercises.

Over the years, I tried many yoga styles, including Iyengar and aerial yoga, but Vinyasa and Yin Yoga became my favorites. Recently, yoga also supported me through pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood, helping me relax my sore muscles and calm my mind.

Now, I teach yoga to children, adults, and seniors, sharing the beauty of yoga with others, because it offers unique benefits for everyone.

6. Katelyn Marie McKinney, Yoga Teacher

In August 2020, Buti MVMNT caught my attention through Facebook. Previously, the idea of working out didn’t appeal to me at all. I enjoyed outdoor activities like walking and hiking, but you couldn’t pay me to step into a gym. However, living with a friend in early 2020, I was persuaded to join Orange Theory. A month into it, the pandemic struck, and while I continued some of the exercises, my knees began to hurt due to arthritis.

Searching for low-impact alternatives, I bought a yoga poster, aiming to achieve the front splits by Christmas. Yet, it was the vibrant energy of Buti Yoga, contrasting my initial impressions of yoga as too quiet and rigid, that resonated with me. Intrigued by ads popping up on my facebook, I embarked on a two-week trial.

Buti Yoga not only transformed my body but also my spirit. Despite initial doubts about matching the instructors’ moves, I persevered and certified. Now, at 47, I’m fitter than ever, proudly displaying my abs and obliques. 

Yoga has transformed me from a couch potato into an energetic and joyful yogi. I balance my job at Atlantic Staffing Consultants with teaching Buti Yoga at Fit4Life Health Club, where I share the gift of health.

7. Tanushree Bhattacharji, Yoga Teacher and Bharatnatyam Dancer

In December 2021, family stress left me depleted and broken. My struggles with IBS intensified, leading me to remove all mirrors from my room, unable to face my own reflection. During this turbulent time, I found a moment of clarity—a realization that I needed to let go of the burdens dragging me down.

I began to detach from harmful relationships, societal pressures, and the expectations that had confined me. As I released these weights, a sense of serenity grew within me. It was then that I embraced yoga, initiating a transformative journey. Each morning, I practiced pranayama and yoga, absorbing life’s vibrant energy. My diet simplified to fruits, vegetables, and rice, complemented by the tranquility of meditation.

This journey was challenging, yet rewarding. The ancient chants and teachings of yoga became my solace, filling each day with purpose and peace. Beyond physical flexibility, yoga rejuvenated my spirit and taught me resilience. 

Months passed, and like a lotus unfolding, I discovered new strengths and insights. Yoga not only restored my physical health but also brought emotional flexibility and deep, restorative sleep. It helped me discern the relationships worthy of my time and energy.

Now, as a yoga instructor and trained Bharatanatyam dancer, I meditate deeply and enjoy a liberated diet. 

8. Karlijn Venrooij, Yoga Teacher, Travel Guide and Integral Coach

Years ago in Holland, I stumbled into yoga, drawn by a promotional offer at a local studio. My initial experience with vinyasa was intense, marked by a wonderful sense of community. Although I enjoyed the sessions, the long commute made me stop, but I still did yoga occasionally afterward.

My journey deepened through personal development courses like Neuro-Linguistic Programming, which introduced me to meditation, and a family constellation course, enriching my introspection.

Tragedy struck in 2022 when my mother passed away. Being in grief, I sought comfort in massage therapy, which led me back to yoga through an extraordinary instructor. Her unique approach rekindled my practice, transforming yoga into center for managing my grief.

The impactful teachings from my instructors, who infused personalized attention and spiritual depth, motivated me to pursue a Kaula Tantra yoga course. This course blended art, shamanism, and yoga, setting a foundation for my future teachings.

Through yoga, I’ve embraced a tool for personal healing and introspection, allowing me to forge a deep connection with both body and mind. Now aim to facilitate similar transformations for others.

9. Scarlet Dee, Yoga Teacher and Breathwork Coach

At 20, a profound personal crisis triggered by drug-induced psychosis propelled me on a spiritual journey. Disillusioned with life in the UK, I found solace in „Autobiography of a Yogi,” a book that was a beacon of hope in my turmoil. Drawn to Asia’s welcoming arms, I immersed myself in its diverse cultures, finding adventure, and a deep connection with nature. Buddhist temples across China and Thailand served as my sanctuaries.

It was in a Thai temple, during a Vipassana retreat, that yoga truly found me. As I stood in tree pose, the instructor’s words resonated deeply, reconnecting me with nature and the power of my body.

Driven by a desire to meet the mystical Babaji, I ventured into the Himalayas in India, a quest that remained unfulfilled. Yet, it led me to Rishikesh, a spiritual haven, where I settled into an ashram. There, under the guidance of an inspiring teacher, my commitment to yoga deepened.

Leaving Rishikesh as a devoted spiritual seeker, I completed three yoga teacher trainings in five years. In 2007, I established Tribe International Yoga School, a fulfilling venture that has enriched my life and for which I am deeply grateful.

10. Nadine Ammari, Spiritual and Yoga Coach

In Jordan’s stunning landscapes, my yoga and spiritual journey progressed amid personal challenges. At first, I was hesitant, but sharing my father’s battle with cancer on Facebook and experiencing strangers’ kindness helped me on my path to self-discovery and healing.

After my father’s death and my mother’s cancer diagnosis, I have made a pivotal choice: to leave my job and focus on caregiving. This change led me to a yoga teacher training that altered my life’s course. 

After my mother recovered and I overcame Lyme disease in Florida, I deepened my self-exploration by taking a yoga life coach course, becoming the first in the MENA region to do so. I also earned a spiritual life coach certification.

Back home, I combined Reiki with yoga, meditation, and pranayama to offer unique, holistic sessions. An Instagram course sparked my entrepreneurial drive, leading to the launch of the Healing Trail—a platform that showcases my transformation.

Now, I inspire and connect with people worldwide, my story a testament to the power of embracing change and finding one’s spiritual path.